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Post by martin on Jan 24, 2007 21:37:26 GMT -5
I am looking to purchase (dried) New Zealand sphagnum moss. I found a private orchid grower who sells some, but the last arrangement was a bit too complex for me. I have also found some in USA commercial CP nurseries, but dont want to pay 15-20$ for shipping. I am looking to buy like 0.5-1kg of it.
So any of you guys have purchased this stuff more locally, even perhaps at a retail store which I dont know about?
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Post by Rick Hillier on Jan 24, 2007 21:42:12 GMT -5
The New Zealand Stuff is a bit on the pricey side, but if it is what I purchased several months ago, there's a heck of a lot more there than meets the eye, as it is very compressed. When you wet it, it will expand.
Make sure you take a 5 or 10 gallon aquarium and keep some of the moss wet in there. Dormant spores will start to grow and before you know it, you will have tons of live moss for planting or topdressing or whatever.
>>> Rick <<<
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Post by lloyd on Jan 24, 2007 22:13:08 GMT -5
I've never had a problem with the Canadian stuff. Some people like it better than the New Zealand or Chilean. How do you rate the different kinds of sphagnum?
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Post by Flytrap on Jan 24, 2007 23:39:28 GMT -5
there was a discussion on this a few years back, and the consensus was that the Canadian sphag was superior. The reason why New Zealand's is more popular is due to hype and marketing... because most of the growers are from the UK and Asian forums, and thus more familiar with the NZ sphag. It's more important to get the coarse sphag. (Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fuscum) then the stringier species (eg. Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum affine) ...as the coarser form can withstand exposure to air and is much more "airier" and resilient. Do a google search and have a look at the species I recommend - their growth heads are much more compact and dense. These guys can survive total dessication and often live way above the bog water level. whereas the other species float atop bogs, or are often submerged. These more aquatic sphags are muckier and does not work well either as top dressing nor as a growing medium ( they do not allow much space for air). So go for the Canadian stuff. The only draw back about a lot of the local Cdn sphag is that it often contain a lot of unwanted debris - leaves, twigs, grass etc. The NZ and Chilean sphags are usually cleaner. google sources of Cdn sphag. I'll also check around for sources for you guys. But be prepared for some fairly steep prices - as the demand for quality sphag receives a lot of competition from the orchid growers...thus driving up the prices.
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Post by vraev on Jan 25, 2007 0:10:11 GMT -5
hmmm.....flytrap...so a stringier sphagnum (canadian) is the one which seems to have HAIRY leaves?? because the one I got from niagra on the lake is of this kind...which seems to love the treatment I am giving it. It has grown atleast 1-1+1/2 inch in like a month and is still bright green compared to the sphagnum cristatum...new zealand sphagnum which gets easily burnt out. I guess i would be interested to get some nice clean green sphagnum moss as well....especially for nep potting. I have got a message from macrovulgaris on ebay who took down his store. He said he has a urgent matter and will return at the end of feb....so I want to get some nice live sphagnum for the rajah.
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Post by Syble on Jan 25, 2007 9:33:30 GMT -5
Your thread has kinda mutated since the first post, so I don't know if this is relevent? Byt I was on Hawiian botanicals page and saw this: "New: Live Sphagnum Moss now available. Attractive ground cover for terrariums and small bog gardens.3 Litre bag: $8.00 each"
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Post by lloyd on Jan 25, 2007 12:15:52 GMT -5
Anybody have any brand of Canadian sphagnum they prefer? The one most common in Toronto has a moose on it. It seems Ok but it does get sort of mucky as mentioned above. If anybody has their favourite brand, please post it.
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Post by martin on Jan 25, 2007 13:12:19 GMT -5
Thanks to all, especially Flytrap for the background and info. The Canadian shpgnum I have found locally is not really dense and bushy (or coarse), but more on the stringny side if compared to the NZ AA grade I have bought from an orchid grower. I have yet to find quality Canadian moss that you described. The best Canadian moss I found is packaged by "Fafard" in Quebec.
I will reserch on Canadian vs NZ on the net.
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Post by mabudon on Jan 25, 2007 13:14:47 GMT -5
Only one I see available around here is that there Mosser Lee stuff at home deopt- all the nursuries and stuff are too far away to ride my bicycle to, so I don't even know what's out there, but I have acquired a bit of sphagnum here and ther nad it's growing good in my bog- so I guess my fave Canadian "brand" is my own homegrown stuff from now on, taken from a secret location natch
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Post by Flytrap on Jan 25, 2007 13:32:08 GMT -5
I hadn't a chance to check out the Cdn sphag brands at our local stores yet... but one thing I'm sure you're all aware of - and that is some of the sphag moss available out there has been treated with fertilizers. This sort of moss is intended for those hanging baskets. And we all know that fertilizers are fairly toxic to most CPs.
I think Hawaiian Bots get their moss from NZ... I'm not sure, but this was the info that was given to me by a friend who visited their nursery a couple of years back. In anycase, $8 for a 3liter bag sounds fair to me. The bummer as always is the shipping charges that we all end up paying a premium for.
What I usually do is head down to a wholesale orchid nursery and buy everything in bulk - charcoal, perlite, fir bark, moss, coco peat etc. And for around $25 you get a big (over a cubic yard) of whatever you desire.
There's a new nursery opening up in Richmond BC that will be specializing in alpine and bog plants. I 've already contacted them for a visit in Spring. I 'll see if they have moss and stuff available.
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Post by vraev on Jan 25, 2007 17:33:18 GMT -5
The prob with HB is that they have
1) a minimum 25$ order (not incl shipping) 2) payment by PHONE!! I prefer secure ways like paypal and stuff. Not on phone....cheques and other stuff is inconvinient.
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Post by barvinok on Jan 25, 2007 18:24:58 GMT -5
What type of moss is trying to replace grass on West Coast lawns? It succeed on my back yard ;D and I'm using it for pleione orchids and sarrasenia. Plants seems to be happy. Bog and alpine plants nursery- Flytrap do you know the name of the owner?
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Post by insectivore on Jan 25, 2007 21:14:20 GMT -5
The best Canadian moss I found is packaged by "Fafard" in Quebec. Same Here! Cya
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